his mother: then, by the same rule, a woman is forbidden to marry her father, though the prohibition is not expressed. Surely it would be fearful paltering with God's law, not to accept and obey such a plain rule as this. And it is to be observed, that these Canons are all addressed to men only: the woman's duty and the woman's sin are left to be inferred in each case: but what should we think of the woman who should therefore account herself left at liberty, so far as the Levitical laws are concerned?
Now look at v. 16; which being expressed in such English as we now commonly talk, would run, I suppose, as follows: “Thou shalt not marry thy brother's widow: she is one flesh with thy brother, and is therefore thine own sister.” Can any other interpretation be put upon it? and if this be the right interpretation, are not marriages with a brother's widow plainly forbidden among the Canaanitish abominations?
Yet one has known persons, generally decent and respectable, who have contracted such marriages; and not a few were found to sympathize with them. And all that is said in the way of worldly reasons,—comfort, care
